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Fagbug Event Brings Message of Tolerance to Campus on Nov. 8

Posted: Monday, October 22, 2012

Written By:
Brian Kirschner

Erin Davies got a rude surprise on April 18, 2007, when she found her VW Beetle defaced with the words “fag” and “u r gay” in Albany, N.Y. Instead of removing the words, Davies set off in her car, dubbed the “Fagbug,” for a 58-day trip around the US and Canada to bring awareness about hate crimes and to confront homophobia. After a year of driving with the graffiti laced car, she fashioned it with a new rainbow paint job and has since spoken at over 130 colleges and universities around the country.

Davies and her Fagbug will make an appearance on USciences campus on Thursday, Nov. 8 at 6 p.m. in the AstraZeneca Auditorium of the McNeil Science and Technology Center. She will screen the documentary film she recorded about her travels and answer questions.

“We want to let all LGBTQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and questioning) students at USciences know, especially those who are still “in the closet” and having difficulty coming to terms with their sexuality, that they are accepted here just as they are,” said Leonard S. Vinciguerra PharmD’14. “We hope that Erin’s visit will give them a role model they can look up to and will give non-LGBTQ students a chance to learn about the everyday adversity still faced by LGBT individuals.”

Some of the key themes of Davies’ appearance will include a respectful dialogue with people from various viewpoints and accomplishing goals despite fears and lack of resources.

“We’ve discussed in the Alliance, which is the University’s LGBT club, instances of intolerance that we’ve each experienced on campus,” Vinciguerra, who serves as president of Alliance in addition to Inter Greek Council treasurer, said. “While LGBT students here do not seem to face much adversity, there are still instances of LGBT bullying that occur and that needs to change.”

Davies’ Fagbug will be parked in front of the McNeil STC on the walkway for the most of the day leading up to the film.